It’s all systems go as Kenya’s Jasiri confident of retaining overral Tong Il Modo

The 11th edition of the Tong IL-Moo-Do international championship finally took off yesterday at in Mombasa after the government released the much awaited funding to the local federation, as participants will be seeking medals in different categories for the next couple of days.

Kenya Tong IL-Moo-Do president Clarence Mwakio said team Kenya will be going for nothing short of gold and are keen to retain their world title in the event currently taking place at the Aga Khan Academy sports complex.

The event started yesterday evening with preliminary fights after it had been pushed forward by two days from Dec 15, to Dec 17 owing to the delayed funding from the government.

“I want to pass my gratitude to the government for extending the enormous support by funding the competition. This funding will go a long way in supporting our national team in every aspect, and we are hopeful that they will do us proud,” said Mwakio.

Team Kenya, popularly known as ‘Jasiri’ has been pitching camp at the Lights International school sports complex for two weeks to sharpen their skills.

“The government has released the funding and we have been able to take care of very sensitive responsibilities that accompany hosting international competition,” added Mwakio.

The over 60 man squad will square it out with opponents in the sparring, forms and individual category competitions in one of the competitive competition in the globe.

“Kenyan team is in high spirits,they have been training hard and they are hoping to outshine their opponents. Obvious we are expecting tough battle from Philippines who are a hard nut to crack over the years,” said Mwakio.

This year’s event has attracted international countries including Paraguay, India, Zambia, Iran, Philippines, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Congo, DRC, Nigeria and Ivory coast had arrived in Mombasa ready for the competition.

“Some of the teams had challenges connecting to Kenya due to traffic, we know its festivities season and many people are traveling, therefore we are aware of that,” he responded on concerns of some teams arriving late. The federation says growth of the sport in the country has been attributed by inbreeding from primary schools that have become incubation centres. To feed the national team, Mwakio said there is need to grow grassroots talent incubation.

“We are using primary schools as incubation centres, we want to ensure young players get into the team from the primary schools ,we want also to work with secondary schools to ensure they embrace the tong IL Moo-Do  sport in the next plan of our expansion,” said Mwakio.

The competition has attracted huge fun base from Mombasa who have gotten the opportunity to cheer the national team which seeks to retain the being a holiday season many Kenyans are trooping to Mombasa and this will give them an opportunity to enjoy sports tourism.

“Our team spirits is high, we are at home and therefore expect huge turn up, our fans are loyal so we expect them to cheer the team until they win,”Mwakio added.

Also highly charged for the world event is Salma Ali 24, a Mombasa born gold mentalist who seeks to collect more medals in the 2021 edition. Ali won gold with team Kenya in the 2020 in the sparring category.

“I am more than prepared for the competition, we are working hard to ensure the Philippines, who are our perennial opponents, will not beat us at our home ground, we know this year provides a tough battle but we are highly spirited,” said Ali.

Ali now urges girl children not to shy away from taking part in Martial Arts citing many benefits that come with it. Apart from body physical fitness,the sport instills personal confidence when a lady is confronted by enemies.

“Girls should not sit back and say we can’t feature in a men dominated field, this sport makes one fit, improves one’s health and also provides exposure, like for me I have traveled abroad through the sport,” added Ali.

Jasiri is the defending champion after successfully defending and retaining the title at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa 10 times.

The team won the championship in a successive 10 times after beating its close rival Philippines to second position. Kenya won a total of 185 medals, 46 gold, 54 silver, 85 bronze respectively.

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